Hole-digging mechanism



Sept 27, '1927.v Q DONNELLY ET AL HOLE DIGGING MECHANI SM Fil'ed Jan. 25. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A ATTORNEY Sept. 27 `1927.

J. O. DONNELLY ET AL HOLE DIGGING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 25. 1926 3 Sheets-Speet 2 INVENIOR JHMES 0. .D0/NELLY Fr//Nc/.s .DS/MM/NGER j B A ATTORNEY sept. '21, 1927. 1,643,549

J. O. DONNELLY ET AL HOLE DIGGING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 25, 1926 3 Sheetsshewv 3 INVENTOR fws O, Don/NELL Y kN-W ff @m uw ATTORNEY and buckets whereby,

Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES JAMES o. noNNELLY, or HERNDON, AND FRANCIS n. SIMMINGER, vor LUDELLQ KANSAS. f

HOLE-mesme MECHANISM.

i Application filed January 25, `1926. .Seriali No. 83,462.

This invention relatesto earthboring mechanism and more particularly'to machines for digging holes for posts, telegraph or vtelephone poles, or the like; the principal object of the invention being to provide a. mechanism for the above purpose constructed for mounting on a wheeled vehicle, such as an auto-truck, and adapted to be operated through adriving connection with the vehicle motor or with an engine carriedV on the vehicle.

More specifically stated,` the-object of the `invention resides in the provision ot a post hole digging mechanism comprising a supporting trame structure that may be attached to the rear end ot an auto truck frame and wherein there is revolubly mounted a vertically depending frame provided at its upper and lower ends with sprocket wheels about which endless conveyer chains operate and whichcarry ajplurality of teeth when the lower end of the device `is adjusted against the earth, the ground will be torn up and removed from the hole being dug.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a mechanism as above stated wherein means is provided for adjusting the supporting frame of .the digging mechanism so that a vertical hole may be made regardless of any unlevelness of the truck frame. Also to provide means for adjusting the whole mechanism vertically so that the digging parts may be advanced down into the ground and then lifted from the hole when it is completed.

Another object ot' the invention is to provide mechanism 4whereby the conveyer chains are driven and wherebv the frame structure that mounts the conveyer belts will be revolved about its vertical axis during operation of the machine so as toV produceround hole. l

Another object of the invention resides in the details ot' construction whereby the parts are rendered adjustable so as to make possible the digging of holes of diii'erent diameter.

Still further objects reside in the various details of construction and combination of parts and in their mode of operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention we have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of'which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereini .Fig. l 1s al perspective view of a post hole digging mechanism embodied by the present invention; showing it as mounted at the rear end of an auto truck frame.

Fig. 2 is an upper end view of thesame parts. f V.Fig., 3 isa side elevation/of the mecha- IllSIIl. i

Fig. 4 is a vertical Vsection taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3, particularly illustratingthe conveyer mechanismvwith the digging teeth and buckets thereon.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of a part of the conveyer mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the same parts. Fig. 8 is a detail of the lower end pa-rt ot' the conveyer, showingthe means for adjusting the length of the horizontal run of the conveyer so as to produce holes of different diameters. y

v.Referring more in detail to the several viewsof the v'drawings-f'l l'and2 designate what may be the opposite side beams Aof anv automobile truck frame and 3 an end beam joining the same and adjacent which, on the outside of the'frame, is vdisposed* a. horizontal shaft- 4 bv means of which the digging device`,'embodied by the present invention, is supported. The shaft 4 is pivota-lly fixed at one end to the vehicle frame by means'of a bolt or pin 5V and at its other end it isslidably littedyiny a sleeve bearing 6 provided with a tiunnioii 7 fitted revolubly in'a bearingS that is threaded onto ascrew 9 supportedvertically by a pair of brackets l() and provided at its upper end with a squared head 1l for receiving a crank 12 whereby the Vscrew may: lie-revolved to effect `vertical'travel of the bearing 8 and in this wa bring the'supporting shaft 4 to aV horizontal position regardless of whether the vehicle frame is vtransversely level or not. A

The digging mechanism proper is supwhich a plurality of clips 17 are fastened iny vertically spaced apart relation and by. means of which the frame is slidably attached to an upright I-beam18 provided to.- ward its lower end with a supporting bearing 19 `whereby iti is pivotally mounted onY the shaft- 4, as isshown best in Fig. 3.- l At the upperr and lower ends: of the I-beam 18 are sheave wheels20 and21-aboutwhich a cable 22 is extended; this being attached at its endsto4 the opposite` ends ofthe bar 16 and is extended about a winding drum23 supported fromJ the under side of' the truck frame by. means ofa winding shaft 24 which is revoluble in supporting brackets 25 and extends to one side of the vehicle where it is equipped with a crank 26y for revolving the drum in one direction or another to wind thecable thereon for the.V purpose of raising orfloweringthe' supporting frame of the diggingmechanism alongthe I-beam18'. Suitable locling. mechanism, such asla pawl 28 and a ratchet 29 is provided for retaining the drum against rotation when it is desired to hold? they digging mechanism at any certain elevation.

For ythe? purpose,` of plumbingA the I-beam 18 when the vehicle is standing on an inclined surface toward the front or rear and after the cross-bar 4 has been adjusted to a levelposition by manipulation of the screw 9, we have provided a rack bar 32 that is pivotallyrattached-at one end tortheI beam at a point somewhat below .the bearing 19, as'is shown at 33, and ati itsother end is slida-ble through a guide frame 38 that is fixed tothe under `sideofvthe vehicle frame. A pinion 39 mounted ona turning shaft y40 meshes with the rack teeth and the shaft 40 extends to-one sideV of the, vehicle and; is equipped with a crank 41 whereby it-"maybe turn-ed to adjust the bar 32 and. incidentally adjust the position of the I-beam 18. Thus it is seentthat by proper manipulation ofthe adjustingl screw '91 and the rack bar 82, the I-beam may be adjusted to a plumb or perpendicular rposition regardless of any unlevelness: of the vehicle on Which it is mounted, and this provides for the diggingr of verticalholes.- when the lvehicle is standing on a hillside. Leveling ori plumbing.` devices of anyf'suitable. character, .suc-h as are indicated at 42, may be attached at .suitableplaces on the: outer:l framev structurel to facilitater the adjusting of the frame to theproper position.

they are attached. and which is fitte-d revo-` lubly within the angle iron ring 14 at the lower endl of .the outer frame structure. Rollers 52Lmounted on the; vertical bars-15 of the outer frame engage in` rolling contact withqtlietop of the'ring 51 to retain it in place within the.v angle ironA ring V14'. This:

vertical 'inner frame carries the conveyer mechanism, asy will presently be. described, andit is adapted to4 be revolubly drivenfby connection, with thev vehicle motor, orany other engine that mayv be mounted onthe vehicle, but which has not beenshown.. in the present drawings. Thedriving connection consists of alarge bevelwheeli that is fixed on the shaft 47 and a driving gear 54 on a short shaft 55 carriedv in bearings 56 and 5G fixedY respectively to the ring. 13 and the centralI bearing 48. rPhe shaft; is connected by means of` a universalajoint 5.7 with a y-ieldably releasable clutch collar 58 on ay driving sha-ft 59y and this latter shaft has a sliding, adjustable, connectionwith-a continuing shaft 60 that is extended to ther driving motor: and operatively connected therewitln |The releasa-ble clutchprovides for releasing the driving connection inthe event thatv the diggingl mechanism beCQIIles clogged or strikes; in stony soil through w-hiclrit` cannot: operate. x

TheA digging and earth removingmechanism is carried by a pairof endless conveyer chains 61 and` 62' which extend in parallel relation about a; pair of sprocket: wheels and'64' on a crossfshaft 65 extended through suitable bearings in the upper ends; of. the bars 45 and 45 and about paired sprocket wheels (S6-66v and 67-67 carried respectively by shafts 68 and69- at-thelower end of the frame. These latter shafts. are` disposed in parallel, spaced relation in the saine horizontal plane and the conveyer. operates horizontally` between t-hesefpa-ired sprockets. Eixed pivotally, at their forward ends at regular intervals in paired relation to. the two conveyer chains are bars70 which, are joined` at their forwardxends by transverse bars 71 providedl with; outwardlyl directed teeth 72 for digging; up the earthl as they move in contact therewith and carried by the other ends of theseA bars 70 are buckets 73 for seoopingnpY the earth loosened by the teeth. Thebars 7 O which carry the teeth and positions by means of pins 8T extended therel buckets are prevented from sWingingoutwardly from the downward traveling side ofthe conveyer by means of lugs 74 that are fixed to lthechains to overlie the bars as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. f

The means provided for driving the conveyer chains consists of a gear wheel 78 that is fixed to one end of the top cross shaft 65 and which operates in mesh with a ring g-ear 80 that is xed within the outer fixed frame to the bars 15. Thus, as the inner frame structure is revolved about its vertical axis by the .driving connection provided through the gears 53 and 54, the gear wheel 7 8 travels along the ring gear 80 and causes the shaft 65 and sprockets thereon to revolve and the conveyer to operate to dig up and elevate the dirt which will be discharged from the buckets due to the centrifugal force as the buckets pass over the sprockets at the top of the frame,

In order that holes of different diameter may be dug, we have provided for adjusting the two lower cross shafts 68 and 69 from and toward each other. These shafts are carried respectively by paired legs 84-84 and 85-85 which at their upper ends are pivotally attached to sleeves 86 that are slidable on the lower ends of the bars i and which may be held at adjusted through and through holes 88 provided at spaced intervals in the bars.

The lower ends of these legs are held apart as desired by brace links 89 which are pivotally attached to the legs, as at 90, and to the bars t5-45 and also adapted to be adjusted to diderent positions and held by pins 92 extended through the holes 88.

Guide or idler wheels 95 are supported from the bars /15 to guide the conveyer chains in their travel.

Assuming that the device is so construct ed, its operation is as follows: First the truck is moved to a position where it is desired to dig a hole, then the screw'9 is manipulated so as to bring the bar 4 into a l level position and the shaft 40 is revolved so as to plumb the beam 18. Thus the digging mechanism is plumbed so as to dig a vertical hole. The lower sprockets are then adjusted so as to give a desirable distance of travel of the horizontal lower end portion of the conveyer so as to produce a hole of a desired diameter. The motor which drives the device is then started and this, through the driving shafts and gearing provided, causes the conveyer supporting frame to be revolved about its axis. As itis thus revolved, the gear wheel 78 on the outer end of shaft which drives the conveyer chains, runs in mesh withthe fixed ring gear 8O and this causes shaft 65 to revolve and the conveyer to be driven. The 'frame of the digging mechanism is then lowered along of the conveyer 'advanced-against the ground so that 'theteeth V72 willdig upan-d loosen the/earth-fand this is if carried up* by .the

buckets '73. and is discharged'therefrom'as -the buckets'pass-over the top sprockets.V It

is apparent that since the whole conveyer mechanism revolves bodily about its vertical axis as the conveyer chains move upwardly, the hole that is produced will be cylindrical. i

It is to be understood that we may desire to change certain detailsA of construction to meet requirements for work in .different kinds of soil and it is apparent that such changes could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and for this reason we do not wish to be limited only to the details of construction as herein shown.

-Having thus described our invention, what we claimras new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a horizontal shaft pivotally supported at one end, vertically adjustable means for supporting the other end of the said shaft, a hole digging mechanism pivotally mounted on the shaft to swing in a plane perpendicular thereto and means attached tol said mechanism for retaining it at different positions of adjustment.

2. In a .digging mechanism of the character described, a supporting frame structure, a conveyer frame suspended revolubly from the supporting frame, conveyer mountinglwheels at the upper end of thesaidframe,

paired-conveyer wheels at the lower end of said frame, means for adjusting the latter vwheels from and toward each other a con veyer operable about the said wheels, earth digging and removing means on the conveyer, means for revolving the conveyer frame axially. and for driving the conveyer and means for adjusting the conveyer frame downwardly to cause said digging means to engage the earth.

3. In a machine of the character described,

a supporting frame,a ring gear fixed with*`VV in said frame, a conveyer frame disposed within the supporting frameA coaxially of the ring gear and comprising parallel, op posite side bars extending substantially below the lower end of the supporting frame,

a cross head joining the upper ends of said bars, a shaft extending upwardly from the cross head in the axial line of the frame, a driving gear on the said shaft, a horizontal shaft extended revolubly through the up-V llO adjusting the arms of each' pair from and toward each other, cross shafts; carried revolubly: by corresponding; arms of each pair, sprocket Wheels ou said shafts, endless Iconveyer chains operating about the Wheels :Ltvuppge-lf and lower'ends of the frame, cross bars; carfred byv the chains, teeth on said bars al1-dearth' removing buckets carried' by the conv-@yer chains.

Signed at Atwood', Rawlins: County, 10 Kansas, this 16th day ofJ-nuary, A.v D.,

JAMES O. DONNELLY. FRANCIS'D. SIMMINGER. 

